Civil War Songs

During the Civil War singing was one of the soldiers' favorite ways to pass time. Scores of songs were composed during the war and sung throughout the armies and at home.

Many were inspirational marching tunes meant to keep soldiers' morale high, while others were sad sentimental songs that were sung when thinking of home or loved ones.

Sometimes, if soldiers liked a tune they heard the enemy singing, they would write their own lyrics to the song and sing it themselves. For this reason, many Civil War songs have at least two versions.

Below are many songs from both sides: some were sung primarily by Union soldiers, others primarily by Confederate soldiers, while the songs labeled Songs the Soldiers Sang were sung by soldiers in both armies.

Songs of the Union
Title	Composer	Lyrics	Music
Songs of the Confederacy
Title	Composer	Lyrics	Music
Songs the Soldiers Sang
Title	Composer	Lyrics	Music